Brake



Jan. 1, 1935. J H,vAN WAGENEN 1,986,306

BRAKE Original Filed Nov. 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

1935 J. H. VAN WAGENEN 1,986,306

BRAKE Original Filed Nov. 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORL Patented Jan. 1, 1935 ,z

UNITED STATES PAT ENaT O E ELCE. p

. BRAKE James HiVanWagenen; Washington; D; G. Original:applicatiomNovembenZfi; iQZGLSerial-No. 1 50,912 Diivided'and:thisapplication lune m,

1930,.Serial.No. .460, 7.00 Q I v 22 Claims. (o1. 188-78) This invention relates to bliaksi and'. more merely: for, purposes; of exemplificatiorr;:for since particularly to brakes of the: servo .01, selithe; essentiali features; of; the invention may: be.

energizing; type, a d; i division of; my, ooh incorporated: in other specificmechanical str-ucpending. application Serial N01. ism-era filed hires-,1 do not intend to haverthespint' t 5 November 26; 1926' (Patent No; 1 78743684; Sep'-. invention restricted; short at the comprehensive. 5; I

tember 2; 1 930); r scope-as definedginlthe appended-claims.

Heretofore it has been; the practice to; utilize To facilitate an understanding oi the invene the momentum ofthe vehicleatthe initial applitionyl have shown; it asembodiedtinanrautomo cation of: the brake member to; the rotating; tive vehicle andwshown; in the accompany m.- drrumfl Asa result thebrakin'g; force: is greatest, drawin W i -i for a given movement of the brake. applying F 51. a diesr m v four" means, at the inception of. the braking action; wheelgbrake i ust a in e operation of It follows: that. the operation of the-servo'or applyineanechanisms; a momentum brake. has. been tooquick and. posig S= gl 0f than brake mounted tivew Bye reason; oi. this disadvantagefthat in.-. one dirigibiewheelz; I 15- heres in. servo brakes asnow constructed, it. is Fig; 3 is a sectional View of a. portion of the. well. nigh impossible to obtain a smooth and brake takenion the; line 3 3 of Fig,- progressively increasing. retardation fully con- Fig. 4 is a view .ot the; interior of the brake. trolled by the operator.. This disadvantage obdrum, showinga'the brakeyin inoperative. post-- tains not only in asing-le wrap band brake;v tion';

but also.- inv those. employing. a plurality of' piv- Fig.5 is a. View; similar to Fig.- 4 showing' the otedshoes" I propose toleliminate the-disadvanbrake; assembly inapplied position; tagesnow obtaining. in: servolbrakes and byem-; Fig, dis adetagilvewp-lof one-of thebrake p0 ploying. a new mode of operation: tojimprovesitioning elements, takenon line 6--6- of. Figure 4-. 2a brakes generally and to, simplify their construc- I Fig. 7- is, a: sectiorron-the liI-1't'- '7.7- of. Fla n- Fig.8. is a. side elevation of. a modification of It is an: object of this invention. to: provideya the device. shown in-Fig.4; 1 method: for retarding the speed: of.- a rotating Fig. 9 'is ai perspective view of the; adjusting member by which themomentum ofthismem drums I r 39. her is utilizedas part of the; brake applying Eigx lp is a cross section online 1-010 of force. 1 V I Fig. 5.

It is another object of. my invention to .pro Fig-11136 11- zisga detail; view of. amodified form vide a method of braking whereby'the applica; oi the invention-.=

tion of the force due tosubsequent momentum In" the drawings thecorrespondin partsin may be made after anv initial bra-king action. has the several views are. designated by the; same 35 been initiated. A a p numerals p j I It is a.. further objectof this invention to As showninthe drawings; 1 is; a front axle provide a brake comprising a pluralityof memg on' which issmounted a wheel 2. through: the inhers which are. successively applied to'therotat termediacyofya spindle 3 andking pin: 4', Big- 4o. ins drum. p r idly afiixed to the wheel 2v is a brake drum 5. 40

Yet anotherobject is to, provide av selfv-con-- This brake drum is; provided withthe usual tainedbrake assembly which may be installed; peripheral flange 6.. Rigi ly afiixedto. thespinremoved or replaced asa unit. dle and enclosing the brakedrum andperipheral A still' further object is to insure. a close fric-, flange is a backing plate 7. This plate may be; tional contact. between. the brake drum and all formed;-with.a lip 8,e nc1osingtheperipheralrim 45 parts of the retarding brake. member; 7 of the drum to protect the brake mechanism- An additional object is toprovide a method frondfmuddust and water, of adjustment whereby the retarding'memben Althoughl. have-shown the brake mechanism; may be accurately fitted ta the drum during, in. as mounted on a front wheeldesigned, for cen== stallation or after wear. between the operating terpointsteering, it is to be. understood that 50 parts. has occurred, V the brake assembly may be applied toa wheel With. these and other equally important ob-; which is mounted-parallelto-the-axis of the king;- jects in view, the invention resides in the methpin.

Ode of. braking. operation and in the. construc- The backin'g -plate. '7 is formed with anoval tions. devised toeffectuate this method which shaped aperture 10. through which may protrude 55 will be hereinafter described. the shaft for the brake applying means. This In order that the invention maybe readily, backing. plate, is also. apertured to receive an understood, structural, embodiments. of it are eccentric. anchorpinel-l and. eccentric: brake po-- I disclosed and described in detail. It is; to be sitioning elements 12-, 13. and, 14.. Each of these:

understood however, that this disclosure is positioning elements. protrude through the back-. 60

\ and 20, as shown in Fig. 7.

ing plate and on the outside of this plate are provided with a squared end or any equivalent means. for-rotating'the shaft. This element carrying the eccentric may be locked in any position of adjustment by the locking nut 16. It

will be seen from an inspection of Figure 6 that the eccentric may be adjusted by unscrewing the nut 16 then turning the squared end 15 by any suitable tool until the desired position of the eccentric is obtained. The eccentric is then looked in this position by screwing down the nut 16 which in conjunction with the shouldered bushing 17 will lock the device in its adjusted position. 1

The brake unit comprises three shoes 18, 19 and 20. The shoes 19 and 20 may be identically constructed and hence interchangeable, although I prefer to'providethe shoe 19 with a, greater circumferentiallength. These shoes are preferably of channel-shaped cross section, although it will beappreciated that, if found desirable, they may be formed of T-shaped cross section or any other suitableform. Each of the shoes 19 and 20 are provided with radial extensions 21 and 22 respectively. These extensions are apertured to seat on the eccentric anchor pin 23. The pin 23 has an integral squared extension 11 protruding beyond the backing plate by which it may be rotated to adjust the circumferential position of the shoes, as will be explained more fully hereinafterL; i

The other end of each of the shoes 19 and 20 are apertured to; receive pivot pins 24 and 25 respectively. Adjacent these pivots the top flanges of each of the shoes 19 and 20 are cut away, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the radial flanges extend beyond the termination of the top flange mount the pivots" 24 and 25.

As shown'infFigs. 4 and 5, the pivot pins are adapted to pivotally-support the toggle members 26 and 27. These toggle arms are preferably of channel shaped cross section and like the shoes may be cast or stamped. In a manner similar to the construction of the shoes 19 and 20'the top flange of each of the toggle arms may be cut away and the radial flanges inwardly offset and extended to form supportingarmswhich nest within the supporting arms of the shoes 19 and form, V in effect, supporting arms which The toggle arms 26 and 27 are pivoted to each other at 28.- This'pivot 28, as will appear more clearly hereinafter, serves also as' a shaft for the cam member 29. The web of the toggle arm 26 is cut away adjacent this pivot and thereby allows movement of'the cam well into the longitudinal plane ofthe toggle member so that it is in effect housed within the toggle arm when in inoperative position.

The'servo' shoe 18is pivoted at 25 to the secondary shoe 19. I preferto cut away a portion of the braking flange and to offset the extended supporting arms 30 so that they are interposed between the similar flanges on the shoe 19 and the'toggle27. *This servo shoe'is'formedwith a cam bearing surface 31 struck on an arc eccentric-to the'braking flange'of the'shoe, as shown in Fig. 4. By reason of the curvature of the thrust segment 31, the movement of the shaft 28 is greatest atthe initial application of the brake applyingmeans, that is to say, after the inception of the braking action a given angle of throw of thecam will result in a progressively smaller radial movement of the shaft 28. At-

tached to the shoe 18, adjacent its free end, is

a spring 32. The other end of the spring 32 is engaged and held by a plug 33 formed integral with or separately from the backing plate.

The toggle arm 27, which is pivoted directly to the servo shoe 18 and the secondary shoe 19, isformed with an integral depending arm 34. The lower portion of this arm is apertured to receive one end of a spring 35. The other end of this spring is held in a plug 36 similar in structure and function to the plug 33. Posi-- tioned behind'each of the shoes 18, 19 and 20, and mounted for;rot ation in the backing plate, are'theeccentric'members 12, 13 and 14. These members serve to determine the inoperative position of all of the brake shoes, in a manner to be more particularly described.

In Fig. 2, I have shown a brake operatin mechanism for a front wheel brake. It is to be understood that this is merely an example of any suitable applying means for a rotating brake applying shaft on a front wheel. as I do not intend to berestricted to the use of any particular' type.- As shown, the brake applying means comprises the telescopic shafts 37 and 38. These shafts are preferably composed of a metal or metallic alloy 38 having relatively low specific gravity, such as aluminous alloy.

The hollow shaft member 38 is pivoted at one end to a universal joint 39. The universal joint is connected with a stubshaft 40 which is journaled in an elongated bearing 41 carried by the chassis frame channel. 'To the interior end of the operating shaft there is keyed an operating lever 42. The shaft member 37 is bifurcated at 43, and is connected through these furcations to constitute the universal joint 44. The universal joint is connected, as shown, to an extension of the cam shaft 28 and lies within the prolongation of the axis of the king pin. To facilitate installation and replacement of the brake unit, the cam shaft may be made in any desired form.

- While I have not shown the operating means for a rear wheel brake, it will be understood that any type maybe employed. It is only necessary to provide a slot in the backing plate to allow for small movement of the brake cam shaft, hence any torque tube or brake plate mounting which will allow floating movement of thecam shaft may be utilized.

The levers which operate the cam shafts are connected through the brake rods 45 to the rock shaft 46. This rock shaft is journaled in bearings in the chassis frame and is rotated by the foot pedal 47 in the conventional manner. Each brake rod is provided with a take-up means, such as a turn buckle 48 positioned adjacent the rock shaft. By adjustment of the turn buckle the lengths of the brake rod may be varied in the well known manner. I

As intimated hereinbefore, I contemplate applying the three shoes successively. My main concern is to bring the secondary shoe into frictional contact with the drum prior to the primary orservo shoe. I have found that a smooth braking action may be had by first bringing the reverse shoe 20 into contact with the drum and then applying the secondary shoe. If additional braking force is required, the servo shoe 18 may then be operated. It will be understood that this latter increase in braking action due to the operation of the servo shoe is a function of the speed of the drum itself.

This mode of operation, that is to say the successive application of the shoes, obtains in the Structure that has been described when the spring: 32 islmade stronger than. the spring: 35. When thereis". 'no: pressure applied to the 1 foot pedal; the separate. shoes 'are: held in. inoperative position against the eccentricmstops; 12', 1&3 and 14. The shoe 181 iswitthdraw-n from the. drum. by tl'ieforce of thetensioned 'spring'r32p-w this springuis positioned at; one end of the shoe ,v the whole shoe tends? to 'swingzxiriwairdly about: its pivot. 26. Ihe-liniit oi thisfretiirn movement :is determined bythe. eccentric-.1121 placed nearthe free: end of the servo shoe; 'Concomitantly with this movementtheshoe ll=9c-and pivot-25am constrainedlto move radially inwardly under the ace tionfof the spring 35; lit/wilt be: noted thatthe lower end of the depending Iarm -34? of. toggle member zfl i'sz-sorpos'itionedi withrelation toithe pivot725 thatlwh'en pressureon the brake op.- erating'meansis released the spring 35 tends to force-"theltogglelknee upwardly. This movement i will shorten the toggle .spread andwithdraw the shoes-'19? and; 20I'from the drum to. the position determined by thestops I-S and 141 Itwill thus be seen that the whole brake; in effect; isdrawn to its imperative :position by pivotal-movement i about the anchor pih 23 When: it is desired to operate' the brake; the pedal 4. 7 is: depressed, This 'motion is trans mined through the-rock shaft: 46 and brake rods. 45. to' the brake applying means on each oftthefiour wheelsi." If 'reierence' is made to Figs/4 and 5; 'iti witl becseen thtt 'bnrotation of the; cam shaft 28' theicamis rotated out of its nestediipositi'onwithin the toggle arm'- and comes in contact with the cam thrust. surface 31. .As the cam is turther rotated' thetoggle knee-.281willl'move'downwardly due-to the fact that. the. effect of spring 321's: greater than that of: thesprine 35. the =.toggle knee'is displaced .downwardlyithe pivot 24, which joins the shoe: 2(1 and: toggle arm426; movesoutwardly tomard-thebrakingi flange- During the initial movement of: the. shoe the shoe 19 is stil1 maxintined mits inoper ativei position agai nst' the eccentrih; stop-13;" .It wil lbeflperceived that the shoe 20: will: be forced: againstthe drnmuntil the: reaction of the applying force 'at the free end of the shoe 20. is equal to the force: exerted by! the spring? 35:. A further rotation of the oam 28' witl then efiect: the; radiat' movement of the unanchored end of the secondaryshoe 19. It ishto be understood,that the operation thus fardescribed appliesronly to; shoes20 and 19 forthe shoe 18 is. still retained in'its;:inoperative position'by the force exerted by the spring. 32. The. retardation of the. drum. is, up: to; this point, obtained by two-shoeswhich arebrought. into operation successively; ;v J i If a greater braking tor'cei'si d'esired, the: foot pedal may be further deptessed'eaThis additional d-epression of the pedal trotates. the. cam 28- through a greaterKangles 'of throw and not only applies additional force to theshoes 20 and 19 but, by reasonof the ability ofi' the cam shaft 2ft to float; applies a reactive force to the shoe IBs When' this reactive. forcei. becomes greater than that: of the spring .32, the: shoe 18 will! then betforced' towards. the: flange lflfi thedrurm and sufficient: additional rotation of the cam causefrictional engagement of these members. .Theservjo shoe. on frictionally engagingythe will tend" to rotatewithit; shoe operating through the pivoted; connectionv at 25. load: the secondary shoe. The amount of this additional brake applying. force: will depend; primarily on the speed oi rotation of. the

drum 'and 'zthe idegreeiof frictionalz contact twe'eimzthe serve shoe and; the; drum; Now since (ration; is. entirelyiwithm the QOntBEOL-Qfz" the operator: aIt is; thereforegtoibe observeithati the several phases: of operation areaeachfireasdily discernible to the operator. After? shoeLflO :ha's beensasetpthe shoe. 1'91 "-istiorced intdifriohoml contact; with the drum only when the tension of the: spring. 35 overcome; These movements are thus: separably fapparent; Similarly the shoe 18 moves: into: engagementowith the: drum. only when thewspring '3'2a;.-iscioyercome. Then after: the servoishoe has once been engagedzwithxfilthe "additional tools pressn reawi ll; athe frictional contact: betweemthe' servo ishoe'ia-nd: the. drum and such increase; of; contact 5 will cause a: greater servoilmovement and: thereby increase thebrakingractiom a: 7

It will be appreciated; tha'txtheroperatinnthns far. described obtains: only-when the: :vehicle is forwardly and when thexdrum is rotating in a clockwise directiomuas; viewed;- in:-Fig'.. .4; Thismdirectionais; designated-why :the arrow A: Ifthe' brake. is appliedr.=when Ia vehicle :isvmom mg rearwardly the shoes 20.3 19 andzmwilk EH35: cessively engage the drum and bralcihgr; feet will. progressively "increase; the meme): already described.- However; in: .this caser' the shoe; l8:.wi1l1 act: primarily as: abiake shoe and not. as aJservo-shoez; SmceFthe-speed oiiiithe vehicle when :movingt'rearwardlmds not? very great there: is "no: real? necessity for: augmenting the. braking: force by utilizing momentum: at the: vehicle. 1 Power supplied: by. ordinary" pedal pressnressuflicesfor this. purpose.-

;;;1-.:: When' the pressure. on the pedahis: relieved the' shoes will be returned to inoperative fposttion throu'gh the. operation Of'iflle: springs 32 and 35, in the. mannernalreadyl described It is to. be understood that the-releasegof theseshoes will beaided bythe usual; return sprimg:.a;ttached to the brake pedal. I When .it is.desired to replacev the; brake unit; this irzay be aecomplished by -uncoupling 'the camshaft section- 28c This maiyxbeiidone by ioosening thecoupling"hereinbefore described. The brake plate may then: be removedand with it the complete" shoe assembly 'bydetaching the .wheel an clslidingthe plate over the spindle;

'It is highly desirable that 1 the brake shoes should beaccurately adjusted with respect-.toithe brake drum-. I propose to do thiswhen thebrake shoes are first' mounted onthe machine. as well as subsequently when: wear I of these parts has oceurre'd It is'a"faot thahmflchbf the wear that takes place, ipartieularly that due: to i the common practice otallwi'rig the shoes te wear in", is unnecessary and may avoid'ed by aa careful: miner adjils'tmentu To accomplish this purpose I provide what '1' term an adjustingx'drum. As 'shown m F-ig;- 9; this; 'comprises essentially a peripheral brake flange 50 conforming. elm-ts measurements-to the flang'e'of. the brake-'czhumrwhich isa'ctua'lly carried. bylthe wheel! This flange instead-Soft be-. ing formedswiths acontinuousbfiat plategasuinlat drum of the usual construction, is supported. by? a plurality of radial arms. '51 tormedzintegral.

the flangei. and: with-a central collar 5-2;

secured; thereto. in anyi convenienhmannere-It thexentire brake assembly is clearly visible to the person making the adjustment.

LToadjust'the brakes equally 'on all four wheels (or oneach' pair of wheels) the brake pedal'47is depressed until-a shoe 18 .of one of the unitsen-v gages itsdrum; It is to be understood, of course, that before this shoe engages the drum the shoes 20.:and J19 come successively into engagement prior towthe shoe 18. When it is determined which-servo shoe first engages its respective'drum flange, the brake rods 45 leading to each of the other brake units are. then'shortened by adjustment of the turn buckle until each shoe 18 on each wheel engages its cooperating drum. When this position is reached, each of the eccentrics 12 positioned beneath the several shoes 18 is rotated until it engages the channel flange of the shoe. 'I'hereu'poneach .eccentric is given the same re,- verse rotation, depending on the clearance desiredysay for'example one-half turn. i

The 'pressureon the foot pedal is relieved and thexpedali operation repeated for the. shoes 19. Thus thelpedal is again depressed until shoe 18 on one: .of the brakes 'has just left its coacting positioning-pin 12.; The pedal is fixedin this position-and'the eccentric pin 12 on eachflof the other three' brakes is then rotated until thereis arsmall. clearancebetweenit and its cooperating brake'shoe' 18, similar in amount to that on the first adjusted brake shoe.- Shoes 19 onall of the brakes will then be engaged with their respective drums to] the extent of the full forceof their similarly tensionedsprings 32, at the same pointrinthexthrow, of the pedal. In a manner similar,;to"the. above operation, shoe 20 is-now adjusted. The pedal is relieved and again depressed until shoe 19 on one of thebrakes has just left itscontiguous eccentric stop 13. The pedal, is then fixed in this position and the eccentric .13 on'each'of the other three brakes is rotateduntilrthere is'efiected a similar small clearance between it andits respective shoe 19. It will thus be seen that the shoes 2.0 on all of the brakes will then be engaged with? their respective drums with a'force equal tothat effected by the'similarly' tensioned springs 35, and such eifectgon. each brake will obtain at a singled'eflniteeposition of throw of-the foot lever. .It .willnow. be apparent that on anyoperation of the pedal the shoes 20, 19 and 18 will;succe s sively engage the brake drum and-all of the identical shoes .will engage simultaneously. As the pedalis depressed all of theshoes '20'are forced into contact'with the drums; as this depression'is contained, all of the shoes 19 simultaneously contactwiththe rotating members and finally upon sufficient throw of the lever, all of the four shoes 18 simultaneously engage with the, drum flanges. M P

After the friction facing: on the shoes has .worn to ya considerable extent itbecomes desirable to readjustthe position of the shoes. r This is particularly true in a servobrake composed of pivoted shoes where the secondary or;loadedshoe, for obvious reasons,. exertsthe greatest braking pressureland is therefore subjected to great wear; In :the-brake. assembly which I have described it is apparent that asthe friction material on the shoes wears down, the drum clearance increases.

. Henceafter an extended period of use a relatively greater'throwof thefoot lever is required to. move the brake shoes into engagement;

c This readjustment'is similar to the initial adeffective drum justment requiring but oneadditional and preceding'step. "As has been' described, the shoes 19 and 20 are anchored to the pin 23. This. all-i chorlpin is formed with. an'eccentric portion cooperating? with the shoes 18 and 19.. .This ec.-.' centric. sectionmay be so. formed that; rotation of the eccentric shaftlljin one'direction'will: cause the heelof eachxof the shoes 19 and .20' tomove. toward the' drum .flange. It will. be appreciated'ofcourse, that inplace of the one pinxformedlwithdifferent eccentric surfaces, .1 may providetwo concentric shaftsreach having one eccentric portion. In this case one eccentrio, for instance the one positioned adjacentthe backing plate-would beformed with a solid shaft fitting Within, and rotatable independently of. the hollow shaft portion of the first eccentric; Each of the, shaft sections,v would be provided with a means vforinsuring rotation, as by squar-: ing the endsrfor. the reception of a suitable tool. Each shaftrsection would also be provided with a means for locking the eccentric in any desired position of: adjustment: a I On adjustment of .the'eccentric 23, the shoes 19 and 20 would be displaced radially away from the center of the-anchor until there was but a smallclearance-between the drum and the heels ofg-these two shoes. The clearance between the separate shoes and the drumwould then be obtained by theqmode of adjustment hereinbefore described,gthat, is to say, each similar shoe would be caused tosimultaneouslyengage its respective drum at the. same point-in 'the throw of the applyinglever. q N

V By. constructing the parts as li'have described, I am enabled to accomplish a plurality. of useful functions in the separate-elements of this structure. Thus, the pin 23 not only serves as an anchor for the complete brake shoe unit, but it serves additionally to adjust the position. of these elements. The stops 12, 13 and 14, in addition to determining the clearance of the separate-shoes, prevents ratthng of these by engaging their channel flanges. The shaft 28 at the .one time serves both'as a, toggle kneeand a cam shaft. .By. this adaptability of the elements to theperformance of plural functions, I' am enabled .to greatly simplify the mechanical structureiwhileaccomplishing the many desired results outlined.

It is to be particularly noted that I have devised an applying means which operates on each shoe witha substantially radial thrust, which, as; is known, is very effective. By placing the applying .means without the, circumferential plane .of the shoes,-I' can utilize space for additional shoe length and therebyfobtain the maximum shoe engaging surface.

If itis desired to obtain differential braking between the front and rear pair of wheels, this may readily be done. For example, afterthe brakes on the four wheels have been adjusted equally, if it is desired to apply the rear wheel brakes 49 prior to the front wheel brakes, the eccentric stops 12, 13 and 14 on the frontbraking plates are given equal turns in such direction as to increase the clearance between the shoes and drum. With this state of adjustment a given movement of the brake pedal will start to apply the rear brake shoes 19 before the result is effected to the same degree on the forward brake. It will be appreciatedthat by analogous adjustment the brakes of the forward wheels may be applied prior to the rear wheels.

Another method "of accomplishing this. same 1 shoes.

rosasoe I 1-9 onthe reazr'wheels "areifirst applied and a further movement of the pedal will rsimultamee onsly apply tthesecondary brake-shoes the rear wheel and the reverseshoes front. wheels. this way the danger :of. placing front springs and axle undue strains is avoided.

It may be :desiraxblein some to apply the.

secondary :shoe prior to the reverse. and serve Fig. 11 by simply reversingthemoggle :so that the. toggle member 2il. attache'duto the shoe 20 carries the dependmg'armto which would be connected the' return spring 35. The-straight toggle :arm :26, is attached :at one :end to the pivot 25, associated withshoe 1'9, and at the other end to the: cam shaft 28. Withthisstructune, movement oi the brake applyiingmeanswill result first .in a radialtmovement -,of:.the .shoe 1.9., for thereason that there is less resistance to the movement of member. Further movement of the brake applying means will result in overcoming-the tension of the'spring 35 and will apply the reverse shoe z20. a continuation of (the brake applying movement, esin the other embodiments disclosed, will applysthe :servo shoe. Dnringtheiniizial. movement of the shoe l9, the shoe 18 will also be subjected to .a certaiindisplacement, due to ttspositive connection through the pivot 25 to the shoe 19. This movement, however, will ,loexsubstantially .;along the line of the'togglesarm '26, the shoe 17 merely sliding on the cam and :eccentnicxliZ. 1 'llo'reduce friction caused bythis movement, I may provide a roller at the thrust end'of theicam .29 to engage-the adjacent thrust surface on the shoe 18.

It will be appreciated that inasmuch as the. spring which is connected to the servo shoex'acts. through a power multiplyingmeans, the effect. on the other shoes may be quite great while using a ."spring .Any desired effect can be obtained by proper regulation of the mul-.

tipliication ratio and choice 10f springs as to strength. Hence, whilethe springs connected to shoes is and to the toggle arm are shown 'on the drawings as being of the same size, it is understood that I do not inten'dto restricted to any particular relative :sizes or strength of springs or design of thepower :multiplying means. r

While I have shown and described the shoe assembly as beingmechanically operatedit is evident that; I may utilize a hydraulic mechanism, an example of which is shown in Fig. -8. This structure is similar to that-shown in'the other figures except that-the cam 29 has been replaced by a fluid .sylphon operator. The sylphon 53 is suitably mounted on the toes-1e by means of an apertured lug 54 on the bottom plate of the sylph'on through which the pin 28',

passes. The upper plate of the sylphon is also provided with a similar lug 55 which is pivoted to lug 56 on the servo shoe. A pin 5'7 passes through the apertures of the two lugs to pivotally connect the two. Coupled to the lower part This may he jacooimplisherl, as shown of this is a fluid "conduit :(not shown), leading through an aperture :inthe backing plate to a suitable. pedal operated valve mechanism.

vThe.arrangement of the shoes and the relative strength and positionsflof the-springs are generally similar to that in the, mechanical em The bodiment shown particularly in Fig. 4. spring .32 suitably attached to the servo shoe 18 at one end and to the plug, .33 at its other end. The plug 33', however, instead of being rigidly .secured tothe backing plus, as in the embodiment, is formed integral with an eccentric pin. "This pin maybe rota-ted'to vary the tension oisthegspring 32 for a purpose to appear more fully hereinafter. Similarly the springilfif secured :at one of its ends to an eccentric ypinf36... The other end of this spring is attached to. the depending arm 34' of toggle member.-2ll.

Whenitis desir'edito operate this fluid brake, the pedal is ,qdepressed. This movement "opens the main :yalve and causes a .iiuid flow in the conduit laindj'sylphon. The pressure exerted .in this member is expended first in applying the 2D and as the pressure is increased the sho'esil) and i8 :arewappl-ied in sequence.

To adjust the brakes of the hydraulically operated assembly. the; operation is in general similar to that described 'fornthe mechanical embodiment, with-the .;one essential difference thatthe adjustments the brake assembly are made with respect to the springs instead of the positions of the brake 1511085. This is due to the fact that the former involves only the extent 30f movement while the latter involves magnitude of hydrostatic pressure. For this reason it will be observed that I have provided the rotatable v eccentrics 33 and .36 at'the anchored ends of the springs, the rotation of, which varies the ,Iloadiust the brakes equally on all four wheels the-wbrake pedal Allis depressed until the shoe 18 on one of the four wheels (or on oneof the pairs) engages its,respective drum. While the pedal is maintained in this position and thewshoesl-fi the other wheels are not yet in engagemennthe eccentric .33 at the anchored.

end of spring 32 \on each brake plate is turned,

sothat spring 32 be released-until its 20-,

operating shoe 18 similarly engages its braking flange. The pedal isthen released until the shoes 19. on all the wheels except one are clear of their respective drums and the remaining shoe 19 just uin-contact with its braking flange. While thepedal is retained in this position the eccentrics 36! on each of thejother brake, plates arerotated in a direction to release the ,wnsion'oi the springs 35' on the other wheels, so that their respective shoes l9' -will be likewise .iust in contact with their drums.,The pedal is then further released until a; reverse shoe 20 on one of the wheels (or the pair under adjustment.) is just in contact-with its drum.

tioning eccentrics L3 on the other three backing plates against which, it. will-be understood, each of the shoes 3.9T now rest, are rotatedaway from;

the shoes 19' until shoes 20 are each brought just in contact with its respective drum, similar to the fourth shoe 20' which first engaged the drum. It will thus be seen that the brake pedal either one, twoor' all four wheels.

is now at the position of'its'throw wherein the application of all of the brakes are simultaneously started. It is preferable, of course, that this should be asnear as possible to the inoperative position of the brake applying pedal.

4 From the above it will be apparent that as the pedal is depressed each of the successive stages of braking on all four of the wheels will be simultaneously and equally effected. 1

It will be seen that I have devised a brake assembly comprising a plurality of shoes in which the shoes are -'operated sequentially, thereby insuring a uniform and evenly graduated braking action, "selectively adapted to ther provided for an eificient utilization of the vehicle momentum for increasing the brake applying force after an "initial retardation has taken place. All of these desirable 'results are attainedby a structure "which consists ofbut few parts. Most of these parts may be; made of metal stampings and, as has. been pointed out. may be easily interchanged and replaced.

Iclaim: V. 1. A brake comprising a plurality ofanchored shoes and a servo shoe; and a sylphon operator connected to each of the shoes. v

2. A brake comprising a plurality of anchored shoes and a servo shoe, a sylphon operator attached to the servo shoe and connected to the anchored shoes to operate the shoes sequentially. 1

3. In a brake assembly comprising servo, secondary and reverse shoes, a fluid operator operatively associated with the shoes means co operating with the shoes to apply each of them in sequence. 7

4. In a brake assembly comprising servo,-secondary and reverse shoes, a fluid operator operatively associated with the-shoes means 00- operating with the shoes toapply the reverse shoe prior to the secondary shoe; v e I l 5. In a brakeassembly comprising servo, secondary and reverse shoes, a fluid operator operatively associated withtheshoes means cooperating with the shoes to apply the reverse and secondary shoes prior to'the servo shoe.

6. The method of braking'a rotatable member comprising applying a retarding shoe to the rotatable' member and subsequently applying a servo shoe to the rotatable member to thereby increase the total braking action.

'7. In a brake shoe assembly including servo,

secondary and reverse shoes, an operator.

and means cooperating with the shoes to operate.

the se ondar shoe rior to the reverse and C y p the brakingeffect.

21. The .method of retarding a rotatablev member comprising applying an anchored retarding member a limited amount to the rotatservo shoes.

8. In a .brake shoe assembly including servo,

secondary and reverse shoes, means cooperating with the shoes to operate the secondary shoe prior to the reverse and servo shoes and to operate the reverse shoe prior to the'servo shoe.

9. A hydraulically operated brake comprising a plurality of anchored shoes and an unan choredshoe, a sylphon pivotally connected to the shoes.

10. In a brake shoe assembly comprising servo, secondary and reverse shoes, a fluid operator operatively associated with the shoes means cooperating with the shoes toapply the reverse shoe prior to the servo shoe.

I have fur- 1 11. A brake assembly comprising" servo, sec ondary and :reverse shoes, a fluid operator:.op-.

eratively associated with the shoes means cooperating with the shoes to apply the reverse shoe prior to the servo and secondary shoes.

12. A brake comprising an unanchoredshoe and a plurality of anchored shoes, a fluid oper-,

a sylphon operatively associated with the. shoesmeans cooperating with the shoes to apply the anchored shoes prior to the unanchored shoe.

' 14. In a brake assembly including servo, sec-- ondary and reverse braking members, applying means for the shoes and m'eanscooperating with the shoes and applying means to-operate the secondary brake member prior to the reverse and. servo members.

15. Ina brake shoe assembly including a servo secondary and reverse shoes,..applying means forthe shoes and means attached to the shoes tocause the application of the secondary shoe to the drum. prior to the application of the reverse shoe.

'16. A method of retarding a rotatable member characterized by utilizing the momentum of the rotatable member to increase an independently pre-applied force on an. anchored retarding member.

17. A method of retarding a rotatable member comprising the steps of positively applying an anchored retarding member to the rotatable member then applying another member to the rotatable member tothereby automatically in crease the braking efiect'.

18. The process. for retarding a rotatable,

member by'cooperatinginternal expanding nonrotatable members characterized by the provi-.

sion' of successive limited engagements of the rotating member by the non-rotating members ,19. A method of retarding a rotatable member comprising the steps of firstpositively ap-v plying an anchored retarding member to the rotatable. member a predetermined limited amount. and then by increased applying force efiecting an independent automatic increase of thebraking effect. y I i 20. .A method of retardinga rotatable member comprising the steps of'flrst positively applying:

ananchored retarding member to the rotatable member and then by .further application utilizing, independently of the said first positive application, the momentum of the vehicle to increase 22. The method'of retarding a rotatable mem-- bercomprising appl ing a plurality of anchored retarding members with predetermined limited I amounts to the rotatable member and subsequently applying a servo member to the rotat able 'member.

JAMES H. VAN WAGENEN. 

